Friday was the early signing period for spring sports and, as usual, Columbia County had several baseball players sign college scholarships. Former Evans and Georgia Southern standout Michael Holder came down from North Georgia and will have a couple of Columbia County kids playing for him in Dahlonega in 2014-15.

• The A-Team Winter Camp will be held on Sundays between Dec, 15, 2013, and Jan. 26, 2014, at Riverside Park from 1 to 4 p.m for sixth- through eighth-graders. Cost is $100 and will focus on mechanics and individual position training. Registration deadline is Dec. 7. Contact Adrian McCladdie at (706) 288-8511 or at prideathletics00@yahoo.com. Contact Stan McIntire at (706) 564-3359.

Atlanta--Battered and bruised before the game began, the gritty Augusta Prep Cavaliers refused to lose Saturday afternoon.Facing a tough Johnson Ferry Christian Academy Saints squad, the Cavaliers made big plays at every turn and walked away with the Glory For Christ League state championship, using two overtimes to win 28-21.The Cavaliers, in their third year as a varsity program, finished at 11-1, winning their final seven contests.The Cavaliers controlled the clock in the fourth quarter and forced four turnovers, including one apiece in each overtime - and did it with key pla

While losing to Warner Robins High School Friday night, the Lakeside Panthers season will continue in the Georgia High School Association Class AAAAA state playoffs on Friday.

With their playoff fate in their own hands facing the Demons, the Panthers jumped out to a 7-0 halftime lead. The Demons controlled the second half, however, winning 35-7 and taking home the Region 2-AAAAA championship in the process.

Columbia County schools showed their cross country prowess both as teams and individuals at Saturday’s Georgia High School Association Class AAAAA State cross country meet.

At Carrollton, Ga., Lakeside High School freshman Alyssa Hooker concluded her freshman season with a fifth-place finish in 20:05.74, earning all-state honors while leading the Lady Panthers (167) to a second-place finish behind Northview (104).

Despite having lost some key pieces from last year’s state playoff team, Evans High School’s boys basketball head coach Kevin Kennny doesn’t mince words when asked about this year’s team’s chances.

“We’re the defending sub-region champions, made the (Georgia High School Association Class AAAAA) state playoffs, got a lot of kids back, we have a good opportunity to win it again,” said Kenny. “Everybody else is going to have a lot coming back, but I think we’re still the favorite.”